Fountain pens - ostentatious?

[Talbot]

At work I was at the recieving end of a presentation from some high powered hyena's, er management consultants, the other day.

Bespoke pinstripes, siver hair, french cuffs, hard eyes and gold watches. All sharp - the full rag.

When it came time for them to take notes, out came the Miesterstuck's, the Montegrappa's and the Starwalkers. My much used daily Parker 51 was noted.

It's clear to me that an expensive pen is part of the uniform for 'Masters of the Management Universe'. An important guy only deals with important issues. An expensive writing instrument is required. A cheap rollerball just won't do.

How does that place those of us in the office that enjoy the feel of nib on good paper - pretentious?

Does a fountain pen have a certain element of over dress in the office?

T

[Tomasso]

There will always be those who will think that using anything more than a Bic is pretentious. What circles you operate in will largely determine how many of those people are around you. Personally, if I wanted to use a fountain pen I wouldn't even think twice.

[Shangas]

I use a fountain pen every day. Literally. I see absolutely nothing pretentous about them and would continue to use them, regardless of the situation. I personally have never understood the belief that fountain pens are luxury items that are super-duper-expensive that may only be used by those of the business aristocracy etc. They're PENS.

[Feraud]

It is no one's business what you choose to write with.
Keep on truckin'.

[Yeps]

I don't think they are naturally pretentious. Well, any more than nice clothes and a great hat. But then again, I always use a pencil (I need my score markings to be erasable).

[Shangas]

It is no one's business what you choose to write with.
Keep on truckin'.

Very well-said, Feraud.

[Miss Neecerie]

I use a fountain pen daily as well. And I know there is at least one other person in the office who does.


That said....there are ostentatious and pretentious pens...and then there are pens that really don't draw much attention unless the user makes a giant rigamarole out of the whole process.


Just a personal opinion, but I find MontBlanc pens the 'ostentatious pen of management and people who want everyone to know how pricey their pen was'.........but thats just me. They tend to be those oversized things that you know the person never actually writes a whole page of notes with, but instead waves around pretending to be productive.

Use a less 'showy' pen and no one notices.

D...currently writing with a copper coloured Esterbrook, its small, its discreet.

P.S. I do have more ostentatious pens I use for my 'signature' and at home...

[JimWagner]

I'm not sure that the perceptions about fountain pens would be the same here as in Australia. Or outside of a boardroom here.

In any case, where I work (a university) I doubt anyone would pay any attention to what you're writing with, let alone recognize an expensive pen over an inexpensive one.

[Shangas]

Fountain pens on their OWN are not ostentatious. They are tasteful.

A fountain pen that is obviously a status symbol, because it has a diamond for tipping-material and it has a platinum nib and it's swathed in gold...is ostentatious.

A regular, useful, working run-of-the-mill fountain pen is not ostentatious and I would never think of one as such.

[Feraud]

Just a personal opinion, but I find MontBlanc pens the 'ostentatious pen of management and people who want everyone to know how pricey their pen was'.........but thats just me. They tend to be those oversized things that you know the person never actually writes a whole page of notes with, but instead waves around pretending to be productive.

Sort of a managerial cudgel..